Many individuals don't realize this fully when they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces considerable dependence which is far more extreme than most other opiates including heroin. Because of this, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation professionals. Individuals who have tried to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can tell you that this is virtually impossible, and many relapse in a short time. With professional methadone detoxification, there is hope for those who would like to get off of the drug once and for all. In a drug detox program drug rehabilitation program which treats methadone dependency and addiction rehabilitation specialists work tirelessly to ease withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There are no real health problems linked to methadone detoxification in the event the person is healthy, but this isn't always the case. Poor health as a result of substance abuse could make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is another reason people should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional setting.